Needle loom



May 11 1926.

Y1,584,680 G. B. AMBLER NEEDLE LOOM Filed Apri1 11, 1922 2 shee's-shee11 May 11 1926. 1,584,680

G. B. AMBLER NEEDLE LOOM Filed A ril 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11, 1926.

Y. UNITED situarseg rsi-TENT oFrlcE.

GEORGE B. AMBLER, OF LEOMINS'IER, lwSSAQI-ICI'SIFI'IPJIVS,l A SSIGNOR TOF. A. WHITNEY CARRIAGE COMPANY, or MASSACHUSETTS.

kL normvsrisn, MAssncHnsmrs, VA oonronnfrroivl or'v NEEDLE LOOM.

Arippneaemi filed Aprn 11,1922.- serilai No. 551,513.1

This invention relates to .looms of that type wherein the fi'llinoV strand is taken from a relatively fixed supply andv drawn through the shed and the purpose of the invention is to provide certain improvements in the picking mechanism of such. a loom. n

.My invention Will best be understood' by reference to the following description ofthe n l illustrative" embodiment thereof' shown by Way of. example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a loom with parts omitted showing in elevation such portions thereof as are necessary to an imderstanding ofmy invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b are elevations of the left and right hand picking devices or needles respectively in their retracted positions;

Figs. 3a and 3b are broken elevations of' the left and right hand picking devices or needles respectively in their protracted positions; and f Fig. 4 is a broken-central longitudinal section through the left handneedle on an enlarged scale.

As anexample of my invention I have here shown a loom having two picking devices, which I will call needles, one adapted to carry the filling into Jthe shed substantially to the center thereofv and the other adapted to. reach into the shed and seize the fillingpresented to it by the first needle and draw. it through the vrest of the shed. In Fig. 1 the first'needle is on the left hand and the second on the right and for convenience I Will herein refer toy them as the right and left hand needles. It will be understood, however, thaty various features of my inven-V tion are adapted to a single needle loom.

Referring yto Fig. 1 at either side of the frame of the loom are mounted guidetvays 9 and 11 along whi ch the picking devices or needlesl 13 and 15 are reciprocated, these needles being advanced into the shed and retracted out therefrom by the in and out reciprocating movement. The shed may be formedl in any convenient manner. I have here indicated shed-forming mechanism by the illustration of suitable harness supports 17. For operating the picking devices there may be provided a driven Wheel 19 having a Wrist :pin 21 adapted to enter the arcuate `Slot 23 in the rocker arm 2,5. For the greater portion of its length the slot 23 is formed as a circular arc of the same radius as the distance of the Wrist pin fromy its axis of revolution b ut preferably the terminal portions of the slot curve outwardly.` As the Wheel rotates and the parts are in theA position shown in Fig. 1, the rocker arm Wil] remain stationary While the pi-n is in the Y circul-arportion of the slot but as itA appreaches the end of the slot the rocker arm Will be started into motion With an easyaction and Without jar d-ue to the outward curving of the terminal portions of the slot. As the pin then passes through the remainmg portionof its path, it will cause a reciprocation of the rocker arm.` An easy termination of the: motion is vprovided in like manner. The motion of the rocker arm may` be communicated to the picking devices to cause them to enter the shed, to retreat therefrom, and then to have a period of rest during Which the filling may be severed by the cutter 26, beaten up and a new shed formed. The needles may be operated by rocking levers 27 pivoted thereto and supported by the links 29, suitable adjustable connecting rods 31 extending' from the rock er arm 25to the'rocking levers 27.

Referring to. Fig. 2a, I Will next describe the left hand needle which carries the filling forward into the shed. Preferably there is mounted adjacent the outer end ofthe guide.

at the inner end of the needle at proper times. Referring .to Fig. 4, the picking de- .vice or needle 13 mayl embody a slide 35 having a boss 37 receivingthe plug 39 on lWhich is mounted a` tube 4:1 forming the main portion of the body of the needle' and a plug 43 in the outer end of this tube provides for the mounting of the resilient Vjavv members 45 which by their inherent resiliency normally tend to close. Suitable means are provided for operating the jaws against their inherent resiliency to open the same and herein the plugs 39 and 43 provide bearings for a` central rod 4:7, which in this instance is tubular to permit the filling strand to be threaded through the same, and the outer end Lif) of this rod is presented between the jaws 45 and when thrust to the right in Fig. 4 to the position shown wedges them apart. A spring may be provided for normally moving the rod to one extreme position and herein l show a collar 5l on the rod between which and the inner end of the tube is interposed the helical compression spring 53. The action of the spring 53 may be reinforced by the tension spring 55 secured to the bess 37 and to the rod, in the. latter instance convenientlyy between the nut-s 57 which form an adjustable abutment on the outer end of the rod by means of which it may be operated against the action of these springs. To shift the rod a suitably shaped lever 59 is pivoted on the slide 35 and has one end cooperatinov with the abutment 57 and the other end provided.

with acam roll or follower 6l. A light spring` 63 may be provided for swinging the lever countereloclrwise for the purpose presently to be described.

I will next describe the particular means here shown for operating the aws of the needle in proper manner in order to carry the filling forward into the shed and deliver it to cooperating mechanism at the other side of the loom. Referring to Fig. 2, we may suppose the needle to be in retracted position, the filling strand f to be threaded through the hollow rod el? and to project somewhat beyond the ends of the jaws 45. In this position the lever 59 is unrestrained and the spring 53 holds the jaws Ll5 open. As the needle advances to the right the follower on the lever' 59 passes along the downwardly and inwardly slopingr guide surface 65 and the lever is swung and the follower in its depressed position runs along the fixed guide surface (S7 extending along the major portion of the length of the guideway 3l. As the lever is rocked the jaws 45 are permitted to close on and grip the filling strand /f and by the aetion of the guide GT they are held closed during the greater portion of the inward motion of the needle and consequently the strand is drawn forward into the shed. As the needle approaches its inner limit of movement, the follower passes the end of the surface 67 and the spring G3 quickly rocks the lever upwardly, a suitable stop surface G9 preferably being provided to limit its movement. The rod it' is thus released from the action of the spring and the jaws 45 are wedged open and release the filling which is grasped by cooperating Lese-,eso

The then is moved to the left and the follower is then on the -further side of the guide surface 6T, the inner end of which may conveniently be bevelled off as shown to ensure that the follower shall pass to the further side in its retreating movement, and the aws remain open during the major portion of the outward movement of the needle, slipping freely over the filling strand. Adjacent the outer' limit of movement of the needle suitable means are provided for switching the follower to the opposite side of the guide 6T to return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2". For this purpose the guide surface U5 already referred to may be pivotally mounted as at the end of the guide 67 and form in eli'eet an extension of the inner face of the same. rifhe guide (35 thus forms a switch which is normallyi swung upwardly by a spring 7l secured to an arm projecting from the pivot thereof and entends in a generally upwardly and outwardly sloping direction from the inner face of guide G7 towards the guide surface 73, which latter is provided with an inner portion T5 overlapping the outer portion of the guide (37 and sloping outwardly and downwardly towards the same. rl`his portion '75 receives the follower as it retreats on the outer side of the surface 6T. 'llhe follower displaces the switch member (S5 against the action of the spring Tl and rides to the position shown in Fig. 2, the switch (35 snapping up behind it, and the switch is then in such position that on the succeeding pick, as the needle advanced again, the follower will contact with the under side of this switch and be guided to the under surface of the guide G7.

I will next describe the construction here shown of the right hand needle which, extending through the shed, grasps the filling and pulls it therethrough in its reti-acting movement. In the present instance this ieedle takes the filling from the left hand needle which has carried the fillingl into the shed on its protracting movement. The right hand needle, as shown in Figs. Qi) and 3b, may be in some respects similar in construction to the needle 13 and comprise the slide 35, boss 37, tube il and jaws 45, substantially similar to the parts 35, 3T, Lil and i5 alreat y described. Coaxially organized with the tube il is also a rod 47% which, however, need not be tubular, provided with a. wedging surface 44) for spread ing the jaws 45?'. The outer end of the rod may be provided with a collar 51n between which and the tubular body of the needle interposed a helical compression spring 523 which in this inst-ance normally tends to shift the rod to the right withdrawing the we( ging surface 49 from between the jaws and permitting them to close through their means on the other' end of the loom. needle lll() inherent resiliency. The lever 79,. pivoted on` the. slide is Vnormally held against.

theouter end ofthe rod 47a by a light spring `all and carries at its outer end the cam roll with the follower 83 for operating the jawsA 4.5 of the right hand needle. Let us suppose the needle to be in its retracted position shown in Fig. .2b. As. it advances into the shed the jaws have no particular function until they approach the filling which in the present instance is carried intorthe shed from the other side by the lefthandneedle. As the needle l5 approaches its inner limit of movement, the follower 83 rides under the inwardly and downwardly sloping cam surface 85 which rocks the lever 79 clockwise, pushes rod 1l-a to the left and opens the jawsd so that-.they pass over the end of the filling which is presented by the needle 13 in. the manner shown in Fig. 3a. This action is shown by F ig. 3b. At the extreme limit off-movement the follower passes od the surface 85 and is released from the action of the spring. 53a and swings outwardly and the jaws are closed ou the filling. A

` release of the cani roll to the upper or outer side of the cam surface so that in the retiacting movement of the needle l5 the follower remains in its outer position and the jaws remain closed while tlieneedle pulls the filling through the shed. At the extreme end of this movement the jaws are again opened to release the filling to permit it to be severed and beaten up and for this purpose there is provided adjacent the position of the follower atV the outer limit of movement of the needle aV fixed cam surface 89 sloping outwardly and downwardly to a rise 91 against which the follower comes to rest during the periodv when the needle is stationary. The cam 89 rocks the lever clockwise, the rod 37 is pushed to the left and the jaws are opened to release the filling. It will be clear from F ig. 2b that the lifting of the follower 83Y under the influence of the helical spring which isinterposed between the parts 37a and 5la is limited by the movement of the latter which is equal to the distance between the parts 45a and 49a at the left of the figure since when these come into contact when the helical spring expands, the part 5l can move no further to the right. The normal elevation of the follower 83 after it leaves the.

left hand edge thereof. The bell crank 79' whichV carries the follower 83,.h0wever, can

.move away from the-part 5la againstthe force of keeper spring 8l andin consequence.

may be freely lifted in the reverse movement over-the top of the cam 85 and a stationary cani is thus provided. for. The cam surface 89 may be extended upwardly tov any convenient degree so as to insure the engagement therewith of the follower on the return stroke independently of the action. of the spring 8l.

Having thus .described in detail one speci-fic embodiment of my invention shown by way of example in the accompany drawings, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I shall express in the following claims.

Claimsl. lin? a loom of the class described, in coinbination, a guiding support, a reciprocating picking device carriedv thereby and adapted to draw the filling through the shed, said device having normally closed jaws, means for opening the same comprising a movable follower, a short fixed cam surface adjacent one end of the support to cooperate with said follower at the outer limit of its travel and a short fixed cam surface adjacent the other end of the support to cooperate with the follower adjacent lthe inner limit of its travel and past which it travels to move past the end of the same and return on the other side thereof. 2. In aloom of the class described, in coinbi-nation, a guiding support, a reciprocating picking device carried by the support andgis moving away therefromfand including a follower, fixed diagonally arranged cams adjacent the ends of the support to. cooperate returning onthe opposite side thereof, such action being permitted by the capability of motion referred to.

3. In a loomy of the class described, in com bination, a guiding support, a reciprocating picking device carriedthereby and adapted to draw the filling through the shed, said device having normally open jaws, means for closing the saine comprising a depressible follower, a guide extending along the support between the extreme lateral positions of said follower and terminating short of the position. thereof at the inner limit of movement of said device and switch means at the outer end of the guide to shunt the follower at the end of the rearward movement of said device to a position to be depressed by the guide on the forward movement of said device.

4. In a loom of the class described, in-

with said follower adjacent it limits of travel, the follower passing by one cam and`` combination, a guiding support, a reciprocating picking device carried thereby and adapted to draw the filling through the shed, said device having normally open jaws, means for closing the same comprising a depressible follower, a longitudinally extending member providing inner and outer paths for said follower throughout the intermediate range of its movement with said device, a downwardly and outwardly sloping guide overlapping an end portion of said outer path and a barrier mounted at the end of the inner path and normally yieldably supported to slope therefrom to the guide.

5. In a loom of the class described, in combination, a guiding support, a reciprocating picking device carried thereby and having movable jaws to close on the filling, means for operating said jaws and a follower for actuating said means, an interior guide for the follower along the middle portion of the support, an exterior guide overlapping an end of the interior guide, a hinged extension for the interior guide and spring means to rock it upwardly to the adjacent portion of the exterior guide.

6. In a loom of the class described a reciprocating picking device having jaws closing to seize the filling and opening to release it and biased toward one position, means controlling the operation of the jaws including a follower moving with said device, a fixed track for moving the followerl positioned to cooperate with the same between the extremes of its movement, a diagonally disposed cam surface across one end of the said track and a yieldable switch extending from the end of the track to said surface.

7. In a loom of the class described a reciprocating picking device adapted to carry filling through the shed in one phase of its movement and having grippers to engage the filling, means for operating the grippers comprising a follower moving with the device, a cam track positioned to cooperate with the follower between the extremes of its movement, a guide at one end of the track cooperating with the follower to shift it from one side of the track to the other and a barrier yieldable in one direction extending between the end of the track and the guide permitting the shifting of the follower in one direction only.

S. A picking device comprising a reciprocating member, a tube carried thereby, jaws at the end of the tube, a spring pressed rod received in the tube, which rod is hollow and provides a passage therethrough to receive the filling strand, said rod having a wedging portion cooperating with the jaws for o Jerat-ing the same and a lever for shifting tile rod against the force of the spring.

9. In a. loom of the class described a reciprocating needle at one side of the loom having a hollow body to receive the filling strand, jaws at an end of the body, operating means for the jaws whereby they are closed during protraction and open during retraction and cooperating means at the other side of the loom to take the filling from said needle.

l0. A double needle loom comprising a protracting needle and a retracting needle; the former having grippers and means to operate the same comprising a follower moving with the needle, a cam track positioned to cooperate with the follower between the extremes of its movement, a guide at one end of the track cooperating wit-h the follower to shift it from one side of the track to the other and a barrier yieldable in one direction extending between the end of the track and the guide permitting the shifting A of the follower in one direction only; the latter needle having grippers governed to be open at the end of its inward and outward movements.

ll. A double needle loom comprising a hollow protracting needle through which the filling may pass, a filling gripper carried thereby, means for opening the gripper at the extremes of movement of the needle and a retracting needle having a filling gripper and means whereby the gripper is opened and closed to receive the filling from that of the first needle.

l2. A double needle loom comprising a hollow protracting needle through which the filling may pass, a filling gripper carried at the inner end thereof, means for operating the same comprising a sleeve embracing the filling and means at the outer end of the sleeve to move the same to open the gripper at the extremes of movement of the needle and a retracting needle having a filling gripper and means whereby the gripper is opened and closed to receive the filling from that of the first needle.

13. A needle loom comprising a protracting needle and means for reciprocating the same through the shed, said needle adapted to carry the end of the filling into the shed on its inward stroke and deliver the same to cooperating mechanism. said needle constructed to hold the filling in substantial alignment with its body port-ion, gripping means carried by the needle to clamp the filling and governing means for the gripping means to open the same at the inner extreme. of movement of the needle and reclose the same only after outward movement has ceased.

l-l. A needle loom comprising a protracting needle and means for reciprocating the same through the shed, said needle adapted to carry the end of the filling into the shed on its inward stroke and deliver the same to cooperating mechanism, said needle constructed to hold the filling in substantial alignment With its body portion, means to sever the filling at the inner end of the protraeting needle as it completes its outward stroke, gripping means carried by the protracting needle to clamp the filling and governing means therefor to open the same at the inner extreme of movement and reolose the same after the filling has been severed and after outward movement of the needle has ceased.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specilication.

GEORGE B. AMBLER. 

